When cancer survivor Kristy Devine, LSOE '05, arrived at Boston College last year, she was hoping to find the same outlet for support that she had found at home: understanding family and friends who had given her the strength to survive.
She said she could not find a "place where people who have been impacted by cancer can go and share similar experiences and situations."
After attending a few meetings of the Faculty Cancer Support Group, Devine met fellow cancer survivor Nancy Baker, associate director of Health Services. Aware that other students at BC had personally battled with cancer or had someone close to them affected by the disease, Devine became inspired to start a student group and enlisted the help of Baker to get the group on its feet. Baker and Devine sought out other student cancer survivors and the Student Cancer Support Group held its first meeting this past January.
The turnout for the group so far has been relatively small, because Baker said discussing cancer-related issues is an extremely sensitive matter. Students are either exceptionally interested in talking about these issues or completely opposed to the thought of digging up memories of one's own exhaustive battles or the painful struggles of a loved one, she said.
For now, the Student Cancer Support Group offers an open forum for discussion, prayer, and companionship to anyone who has been impacted by cancer in any way. The group has advertised through the office of Residential Life, BC Cable, and other media, and hopes to draw more students to attending future meetings. The group will meet next on March 31 at 7 p.m. in the Health Services Conference Room.
While they have no regularly established schedule, Baker and Devine are hoping to hold one meeting per month, giving students the chance to meet with others touched by cancer and as Devine put it, find an "outlet from real life."
The goal of the group, Baker said, is to "try to make something positive out of the negative situation affecting these students."
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1,334,100 people will be diagnosed with cancer this year.
Presently, three BC students, Erin Barry, LSOE '03, Mike Genovesi and Kyle Novellano, both CSOM '03, in collaboration with the Student Cancer Support Group, are preparing for the Second Annual "Run for a Cure," a 5K run/walk event aimed at raising money for cancer research. The event will be held on March 23 beginning on the Beacon Street side of Conte Forum
"Run for a Cure," open to students and non-students alike, is in memory of Novellano's brother, Adam Novellano, who passed away two years ago due to cancer.
"After going to Adam's funeral, I felt extremely helpless seeing Kyle so torn apart by his brother's death," said Genovesi.
Inspired by his sister, who had started a "Run for a Cure" at Williams College a few years previous to Adam's death, Genovesi shared his idea to start a race at BC with Novellano and Barry. Barry had struggled through chemotherapy while still attending classes and beat cancer during her freshman year at BC. Hoping to raise only a few thousand dollars, the three organized the event and were shocked and excited to have raised $15,000 for the American Cancer Society in their first year holding the race, with over 400 runners participating.
This year the "Run for a Cure," sponsored by the Lynch School of Education Honor Society, will benefit the Jimmy Fund, and Barry hopes to have at least 500 to 600 runners come out for the event.
"The purpose of the race is to raise awareness about cancer and how many lives it touches," said Genovesi. These three students along with the Student Cancer Support Group encourage students, faculty, and others in the community to get involved in this event, either by participating in the race, sponsoring someone, or making a donation. To celebrate, an after party will be held for participants at Roggie's Bar and Grille on Chestnut Hill Avenue.
For more information on the Student Cancer Support Group, contact Nancy Baker at 2-3226. Information about benefiting the Jimmy Fund by participating in the Run for a Cure can be found on www.runforacure.org.
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